Ngāti Tūwharetoa

Population: 35,877 (does not include any of 19,719 "Te Arawa but iwi not specified")

Rohe (Tribal Area)

The Ngati Tuwharetoa tribal territory is in the central North Island, around the Lake Taupo water catchment area. The boundaries are:

North – near Mihi’s bridge south of Reporoa; West – Titiraupenga, the Hauhungaroa Ranges and south-west to Taumarunui; East – the Kaimanawa Ranges; and South – Tongariro National Park.

There are also many families of Ngati Tuwharetoa living in the Moawhango, Bulls and Tokorangi areas. There is a saying in Ngati Tuwharetoa: ‘Ko te tomokanga o te iwi ki te tonga, ki Tokorangi’ (the gateway to Tuwharetoa in the south is at Tokorangi).

There are several sub-tribes of Ngati Tuwharetoa which have grouped under two names:

Te Matapuna: these people live in the south of Motutaiko, the island in Lake Taupo, and on the lake’s southern shores. Their name indicates that they are the source of tribal life.

Te Hikuwai: these groups are north of Motutaiko. Their name means ‘the reservoir’, as they live where the waters of the lake join the Waikato River.

Iwi rohe interest in local authority regions and districts

This rohe of Ngāti Tūwharetoa extends into the regions or districts of the following local authorities.

Regional Council

Waikato Regional Council

Horizons Regional Council (Manawatu-Wanganui)

Territorial Authority

Taupō District Council

Ruapehu District Council

Hapū and Marae

Contact information for hapū and marae may be provided by the Representative Organisation at their discretion.

Governance structure: Six trustees: iwi members elect one nominee in each of four wards, and elect one of at least two professional trustees nominated by Tuwharetoa Maori Trust Board and one of at least two nominated by Ngāti Tuwharetoa (Bay of Plenty) Settlement Trust.